Author note: Sorry I left you hanging on a cliffhanger in the last chapter; I thought it was a good place to stop. So, here's chapter fourteen!
I jolted up and found myself back in the Brooklyn Lodging House, in my room. I looked around and felt sweat dripping from my forehead. I wiped away the sweat, and felt how hot my forehead was with my icy cold hand. I looked down at myself to find that I was in a night dress.
"Ah, you're awake," came a voice from the doorway. I looked over to see a middle aged man tipping his hat.
"I am Doctor Grey. I hope you don't mind but I had a nurse change you," he said, walking into the room. He walked to my bed and placed the back of his hand onto my forehead.
"Hmmm, you seem to be getting worse," he said, pulling his hand away. I opened my mouth to talk,
"Where-" I put my hand around my neck and winced. My throat was worse than it was earlier, making me sound raspier. So technically I couldn't talk unless I wanted to feel the throbbing pain.
"It isn't a great idea to talk," the doctor said, pouring some kind of liquid into a spoon and shoving it into my mouth. I tried my best to swallow, and succeed by the least. The medicine tasted horrible, causing me to gag slightly.
"Now you should rest for awhile longer," Dr. Grey said, turning his back to me and fiddling with something. He turned back around with a needle in his hand. I flinched and shook my head in protest.
"If you want the pneumonia to go away, dear, then I must do this."
Pneumonia? My eyes grew wide as he stuck the needle into my arm. It stung a bit, and I had a feeling that I'd have a bruise afterward. He pulled the needle out and threw it away. He wiped away the blood.
"Now rest," he demanded, leaving the room and shutting the door. I watched him leave in disbelief. How could I have pneumonia? Wait…If I had pneumonia, then that means I'd have to be on…quarantine.
I wanted to call out for somebody, but what good would that do? I probably already passed around the bug. What if Spot had it after carrying me? I wanted to get out of bed and make sure he was alright, but I'd only get scolded.
I heard a knock on the door, and saw Splinter enter cautiously.
"Hey," he said. I shook my head and motioned him out. The last thing I wanted was for him to get pneumonia too.
"Don' worry, I'm immune," he said, walking to my bed. I wanted to ask where Spot was, but I couldn't. Damn throat! Splinter walked to my window and looked out.
"It's nice out," he said, turning back to me. I laid my head down onto my pillow and stared up at the ceiling.
"Spot told us not ta botha youse, but I had ta see if youse were okay." I watched him walk back to the door.
"I guess I'll leave youse ta rest." He then left with a smile, leaving me to be confused.
A few days passed and I was getting worse. The doctor wouldn't tell me this, and I just knew. The nurse was getting tired of washing my wet sheets from me sweating so much. My fever rose terribly, and I couldn't talk whatsoever. I may have been burning up, but it felt like it had snowed in my room.
I shivered, even with a million blankets on top of me. I hadn't seen Spot or any of the other boys for days, except for Splinter. He told me that the others weren't aloud to enter since I was on quarantine. I was throwing up my food, and having dreamless nights. From time to time the scene of Spot's lifeless body played in my dreams, and it became so familiar that I could perform it.
Spot's P.O.V
The others and I were sitting at a table, playing a poor game of poker. None of us could really concentrate on the game, since we were so worried about Sage. She was sick, bad. I shook my head and laid my cards down.
"I quit," I said, rising from the table. Just as I did the doctor walked out of Sage's room, and looked down at me with sad eyes.
"I have bad news," he said, walking down the stairs. I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
"She is getting worse," he started, "And there is nothing more I can do." I stared in disbelief.
"What?" I said, getting ready to knock him out.
"We are running low on medicine, and it isn't doing anything for her."
"What are youse sayin, then? She's gonna die?" I said, clenching my fists.
"There is a way," the doctor said, stepping away from me. I waited for him to continue, anxious to hear what he had to say.
"There is a medicine that might help her, but it does not exist in New York."
"Well then where does it exist?" I asked, hoping it could at least be near.
"New Jersey, I think. But there isn't a way we can get there. If I left then Sage might die." I felt a twinge of hope spark in my heart.
"I'll go," I said, stepping up. The doctor looked at me oddly,
"You? But you're just a mere boy," the doctor said, looking me over. I sent him a glare,
"I said I'll go. Youse either give me a map or I'll just make youse!" The doctor flinched, and then ordered one of the nurses to grab a map.
"This is a dangerous task, son," Dr. Grey said, opening up the map.
"Now, the easiest way is to take a short cut through the woods after you get here," the doctor said. He showed me which way to go, and marked the shortcuts. It seemed like a long way, but I had to do this.
"Three days," Dr. Grey said out of the blue. I gave him an odd look as I pulled on a coat and gripped the map in my hand.
"You have three days to get to New Jersey and back. If you don't make it back by Friday night then all is lost." I felt a nervous vibe flow through me as I stuck my cane in my belt loop and grabbed my slingshot. Dr. Grey gave me money for food and the medicine. He instructed me on where I could buy the medicine.
"You may not make it back in time," the doctor said, fiddling with his bowler hat in his hands.
"I ain't gonna let 'er die," I said matter-of-factly. Dr. Grey nodded. I said farewell to the boys, and turned to Splinter.
"She's gonna wonder 'bout youse," he told me.
"Den tell 'er dat I'm sorry I can't come visit 'er. But don't tell 'er where I am. I don't want 'er ta worry." I said my goodbye and left the Lodging House. I opened up the map to see where to go first.
Normal P.O.V
I woke up from the same nightmare. I caught my breath as I looked around the room, and felt myself cough, causing a sharp pain in my throat. Something wasn't right.
Dr. Grey entered my room and gave me a weak smile.
"Hello, Sage," he said, walking closer to me. I stared blankly at him as he poured that horrible medicine into a spoon and shoved it down my throat. I was getting used to the taste, but I still didn't like it. I laid back down on my pillow and watched Dr. Grey give me the usual shot.
I'm going to die… I thought, listening to the rain hit the roof. Splinter entered the room and nodded towards Dr. Grey to acknowledge him.
"Heya, Sage." I smiled at him as he walked over to my bed.
"Guess who's downstairs?" I tilted my head, and waited for him to continue.
"Scout and Jack!" I jolted up in my bed, causing my head to ache. Splinter laughed slightly and made me lie back down.
"Dey want ta see youse, but dey can't." I knew they couldn't, but I was still glad they came all the way from Manhattan just to check up on me. Splinter placed his hand on my forehead, and I saw him frown. I looked away and watched Dr. Grey write something down on a piece of paper.
If I'm going to die, I at least want to write out a will! I tried to laugh at my thoughts, but I couldn't. I soon felt sleep overcoming me.
Spot's P.O.V
I was far from Brooklyn now. At least I was getting somewhere. I didn't exactly know where I was now, so I just followed the direction on the map. It was still raining a bit, making it hard to see. I tucked the map inside my coat and sat under a tree. I was in a forest now, but I knew I wasn't even near New Jersey yet.
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
I awoke the next morning to having a drop of water fall carelessly on my cheek. I opened my eyes to be blinded by the sun shining through the trees. I rubbed my eyes and rose to my feet, opening up the map. I was in Bronx now, deep within the forest.
"Stupid doctor," I muttered. "I could've gone an easier way to Bronx." My feet sank into mud, causing me to curse under my breath. I didn't know if I was close to civilization yet, so I trusted my instincts…and followed the map.
It wasn't long until I came upon a small town, there could possibly somewhere I could stop and eat.
Idiot, youse don't have time to eat, I thought, mentally slapping myself. Damn, I have ta get back, I jus' have ta. I looked at the map and studied it quietly to myself. Why did New Jersey have to be so far away? I couldn't possibly make it there and back in three days. It wasn't long enough.
I found a restaurant, but I wasn't sure if I had time to eat. I finally decided that I had to have my strength and entered the restaurant, getting a few stares. I sat down at a table and waited impatiently for a waiter to come.
"G'mornin, sir. What can I get you?" a man asked. I quickly told him something simple, and shooed him off. It didn't take too long for him to return, and I scarfed down what I could. After I had finished I slammed some change onto the table and ran out of the restaurant. I looked at the map and followed the dirt road.
I walked for what seemed like forever, passing pastures, and carriages quickly riding by me. I kept the map tightly in my hand. From time to time I would wonder if Sage was okay. I couldn't let her die, that would be cruel. She was always letting herself down, and at other times she was peaceful. I didn't know her well, but she was still a good person. It was my fault that she was sick; if I hadn't had been so rude then she would've never run off into the rain.
Why did I have to be so stupid? If she died, then I'd never be able to forgive myself. A carriage was coming up behind me, so I stepped to the side to let it by, because I knew it wouldn't give me a ride. To my surprise the carriage stopped and the man driving it gestured me to come close. I cautiously walked up to him.
"Need a ride?" he asked, giving me a sweet and kind smile. I looked around and nodded, taking a seat beside him.
"So, where you headed?" he asked, making a clicking noise with his tongue. The horse began to trot along the dirt rode.
"New Joisy," I said, looking around at the scenery.
"Good, that's where I'm headed." I nodded, and leaned back. I began to think my time limit over. Yesterday was Wednesday, so today was Thursday. So that meant I had to be back by tomorrow. I felt a bit unsure of myself.
"So, why ya headed to New Jersey? Oh, and the names Ned Diggins."
"Spot Conlon, an' I'm headed to Joisy because a friend of mine is sick an' I'm tryin to get medicine to 'er by tomorrow night," I said, feeling a bit sad.
"Oh, well I hope you make it in time," Ned said, smiling.
"Me too," I muttered.
"So, it's a special girl?" the man asked, giving me a glance.
"Uh, what do youse mean?" I asked, looking at him strangely.
"Is she special to ya?" I blushed slightly, and shook my head.
"She's just a friend, if dat's what youse mean," I said, looking away. Ned nodded and began to whistle a familiar tune. I think I heard Scout whistling it one time.
I felt my eyes become a bit droopy, and I silently faded away into a nightmare.
What to look forward to in the next chapter: The chapter will start off with Spot's dream, and we finally find out who it was in Sage's dream that touched her shoulder. Spot will finally get to New Jersey, but will he make it back in time before Sage's life is at lost?
Author note: Argh, I would've had this chapter out earlier, but as I was typing it the power went off! I was so mad because I thought I lost what I wrote, but later when I got back on I found that Microsoft had saved what I typed. Yay!